1988 Ford Thunderbird vs 1988 Nissan Maxima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1988 Ford Thunderbird | 1988 Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 92 | 60 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 24 | 2 |
| Investigations | 7 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 5 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 16 | 32 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17–21 | 18–19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Thunderbird | Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 29 | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 28 |
| Seat Belts | 18 | 7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 5 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Brake problems | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 0 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
1988 Ford Thunderbird
1988 Nissan Maxima
Compare all Ford Thunderbird vs Nissan Maxima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.